Apparatus for drying photographic strip film



P 1951 s. ROSE ET AL APPARATUS FOR DRYING PHOTOGRAPHIC STRIP FILM FiledFeb. 8, 1949 INVENTORS Samuel Bo'se BY BEfljCll'fllf! Rose PatentedSept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DRYINGPHOTOGRAPHIC STRIP FILM 3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for drying photographic strip film.

In processing photographic strip film, the film becomes wet and soggyand stretches thereby distorting the images thereon. In order to restorethe images to their original state or condition, the film must be driedand permitted to shrink to its natural or original condition withoutrestraint.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide apparatus fordrying photographic strip film that permits the film to become dryuniformly and to resume its normal condition without restraint.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this kind on which the stripfilm can be readily coiled for drying purposes, and the coils permittedto contract automatically and without restraint.

Another object is to provide a cage or reel member for supporting thestrip film in coiled formation which is self-adjusting in diameter, inorder to facilitate shrinking of the film.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a film dryingapparatus that is simple in construction, easily assembled anddisassembled and capable of being knocked-down and packed in a smallpackage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of apparatus for dryingphotographic strip film embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the reel, onan enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the mounting of the socket forsupporting the film mounting bar, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts moved.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 comprises an elongatedhollow base plate or block 5 having end cross-pieces 6, 6 from whichfeet I, I depend for supportin the apparatus. Upstanding tubular endposts 8, 8 are removably mounted on the cross-pieces at their centers.Each end post has its bottom end closed by a disc or cap 9 having acentral opening or socket portion l0 adapted to detachably seat on anupstanding stud l on the center of the crosspiece. The post is heldtight on its seat against removal by a clamping screw I2 extendinglaterally through an opening in the wall of the post with its inner endimpinging against a flat portion of the stud. At its top, the post isclosed by a disc or cap |3 having a central opening or socket portion Il. The base, cross-pieces and posts may be made of aluminum or othersuitable light and durable metal and constitute a frame.

Mounted in the opening I4 of each top disc disc I3 is a bearing memberhaving an annular head l5 with an opening l6 therein and journalled insaid openings is a shaft or axle H. An

annular hub member I8 is fixed on the shaft adjacent each end post 8.This hub member has a broad periphery formed with a series of spacedsocket portions 9. Removably seated in each socket portion I9 is a.radial spoke 20 which is held therein by clamping screw 2|. A tubularsocket member 2|, having one end closed and flattened as indicated at 22and havingits opposite end open, is slidably mounted on the outer end ofeach spoke. This is accomplished by providing an opening in theflattened end 22 and inserting it over the upper end of the spoke. Asnap ring or washer 23 fastened to the spoke adjacent its outer endprevents the withdrawal of the socket member. Surrounding the spokebelow and adjacent the socket member 2| is a coiled spring 24, thebottom end of the spring being seated on a snap ring or washer 25secured on the spoke and its upper end being seated and impingingagainst the lower surface of the flattened end 22 of the socket member2| whereby said socket member is urged outwardly against the outer ring23. The socket members 2| project at right angles to the bodies of thespokes and parallel to the shaft H. The spokes when assembled on thehubs are directl opposite each other so that the socket members 2| arein alinement and are opposed to each other. Detachably supported in theopposed socket members are bars or ribs 26, the ends of which barsproject into the socket members of each pair of opposed spokes. Thearrangement and size of the tubular socket members 2| are such that barsof various lengths may be detachably supported therein. The shaft, hubs,spokes, socket members and bars are preferably formed of stainless steeland constitute a cage or reel cylindrical in cross-section. The tubularsocket members 2| with their bars 26 being movable inwardly andoutwardly along the spokes, it will be seen that the diameter of thereel may be adjusted permitting it to contract or become smaller.

A motor 21 is mounted on the base 5, protected by a housing 28 andoperatively connected to a source of electromotive power. A groovedwheel 29 secured to the end of the motor shaft 30 drives a belt 3| whichin turn drives a pulley 32 fixed on the shaft l1 adjacent one of its hubmembers for rotating the reel.

An electric heating unit 33 of ordinary construction is supported at oneend on an insulating post 34 mounted on the top of the motor housing 28and at its other end on an insulating post 35 mounted on the base 5.This unit includes an elongated base plate 36, a resistance wire or coil3'! on the base plate and an enclosing top plate 33. The coil isconnected to a source of electromotive power by conductors 39. Theheating unit is positioned directly below the reel so that hot air isdirected upwardly circulating throughout and around the reel. 1

In using the apparatus, a photographic film is wound around the bars 26in coiled formation with its ends fastened by means of strips 4| ofadhesive tape or the like so that such ends can easily be detached.

While the reel is being rotated by the motor 27, the hot air from theheater unit 33 will circulate through and around the reel and over thestrip 40 of film thereby heating and drying the entire area of the film.During this drying operation, the strip of film will tend to contract orshrink and assume its original natural condition. This shrinking actionwill cause a slight inward pull on the supporting bars 23 and themounting of such bars is such that it permits them to yield and moveinwardly on the spokes against the action of springs E l therebypermitting the size of the diameter of the reel to be come smaller sothat the strip of film may shrink without restraint. The strip of filmis thus permitted to resume its original condition thereby correctingthe distortion of the images thereon.

In disassembling the apparatus, the spokes are easily detached fromtheir hubs and the bars 26 easily removed from the socket members 2!.The shaft IT can then be easily removed from the bearings on the posts8, and the latter detached from their supporting studs ll. The parts ofthe apparatus may then be readily stacked and shipped in knocked-downcondition in a container of small compass.

Changes in details of construction, such as substituting heating lampsfor the heating unit shown, may be made Without departing from theprinciple of the invention.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for drying photographic strip film, a base, a reel onthe base for supporting a strip of film in coiled formation consistingof a central shaft, opposed radial spokes supported at both ends of theshaft, a tubular socket member slidably supported on the outer end ofeach strip 43 of 4 spoke and disposed parallel with the shaft, a bardetachably supported between each pairof opposed socket members and acoiled spring interposed between each socket member and its' supportingspoke for yieldingly supporting said socket member and a heating unit onthe base below the bars for drying film supported by said bars.

2. Knock-down apparatus for drying photographic strip film comprising arectangular elongated base, upright posts removably supported at theends of said base, a shaft rotatably and detachably mounted on the topsof said posts, hub members fixed to the ends of said shaft, spacedradial spokes detachably mounted in the peripheries of said hub members,socket members supported on the outer ends of the spokes in parallelismwith the shaft and detachable bars extending between the opposed ends ofsaid socket members and a heatingunit on the base below the bars fordrying film supported by said bars.

3. Knock-down apparatus for drying photographic strip film comprising arectangular elongated base, upright posts removably supported at theends of said base, a shaft rotatably and detachably mounted on the topsof said posts, hub members fixed to the ends of said shaft, spacedradial spokes detachably mounted in the peripheries of said hub members,tubular socket members supported on the outer ends of the spokes inparallelism with the shaft, detachable bars extending between andsupported by the opposed ends of said socket members, an electric motoron the base operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the same andan electric heating unit on the base below the bars for drying filmsupported by said bars.

SAMUEL ROSE. BENJAMIN ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

